Portable parts cabinet



90f. 30, 1945. BRQWNLIE ETAL 2,387,741

I PORTABLE PARTS CABINET Q Filed Aug. 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 (9 i am 0 INVENTOR-S Oct. 30, 1945. .1. BROWNLIE ETAL PORTABLE PARTS CABINET Filed Aug. 2 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q J. BROWNLIE -r AL v 2,387,741

PORTABLE PARTS CABINET J. BROWNLIE El AL PORTABLE PARIS CABINET Oct. 30, 1945.

Filed Au 25,1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 30, 1945 PORTABLE PARTS CABINET John Brownlie, Freeport, and Ralph Gerstenzang, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to A. B. 0. Steel Equipment Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1941, Serial No. 408,156

2 Claims.

eration, the locking device including a movable cover which acts as a closure for an otherwise enclosed compartment.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a cabinet of the class described which is especially suitable for storing and transporting a considerable variety of goods, as for example, machinery repair parts which are of many different sizes, shapes and weights.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a cabinet of the general type described which offers copious storage space for a considerable bulk of material and yet which is light in weight so that when the loaded cabinet is transported on a vehicle, a relatively low amount of the vehicles hurt den is taken up by the dead weight of the cabine .Astill further object lies in the provision of a multi-drawer cabinet composed principally of .sheet metal in which a large number of the parts thereof are articulately interconnected so that the cabinet itself may undergo a considerable degree of distortion by reason of the shifting or weaving of the support uponwhich it rests. I

The. invention, therefore, contemplates a multidrawercabinet construction composed chiefly of sheet metal which, being of light weight, may carry-relatively heavy parts for armored tanks, armored trucks, and so forth. Thus, where the present cabinet is used to carry repair parts for an armored tank, by reason of the adaptability of the cabinet, repair parts of various sizes, shapes and weights .may be stored within the cabinet. The repair parts therein are conveniently locked by a relatively .simple operation and when the cabinetis carried by the repairing vehicle, the repairing vehicle may travel rough terrain causing the cabinet to shift, weave and become distorted without deleteriously affecting the same. If, upon arrival at its destination, the surface of the repairing vehicle supporting the cabinet is uneven, within certain limits, the cabinet may be proper- 1y operated with quick and easy access to all of the parts which it may contain. This condition also holds true if the cabinet is removed from the repairing vehicle and placedupon an unlevel surfacelsuch as rough ground.

Another important feature of the present invention lies in the durability and sturdiness of this construction which uses a combination of bolts and nuts, rivets and welding. The cabinet is further strengthened by certain articulately connected members which permit alimited movement and distortion between certain connected parts.

.These objectsand other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings constituting a material part hereof, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan View showing a preferred formof the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryfront elevational view of the cabinet shown in Figure 1 with the several drawers removed for purposes of clarity.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as mightbe seen from the plane33 in FigureZ.

Figure 4 isan enlarged fragmentary detail front elevational view showing an upper and a lower locking bar retainer and a locking bar or a drawer locking bar.

Figure 5 is ahorizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 55 in Figure 4. i

Figure 6 is a fragmentary lower rear corner sectional view showing the rear corner reinforcinggusset in plan. V

Figure 7 is afragmentary vertical sectional vie showing the lower rear corner construction as might be seen fromthe plane (on Figure6.

Figure 7A is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane-1A-1A on Figure '7.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower left front corner of the cabinet.

Figure 9'is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the lower front reinforcing gussetin plan.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view as mightbe seen from theplane ID on Figure 9.

In Figures 6 to .10 inclusive, except 7A, thebottom wall 2| is omitted for purposes ofclarity.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front elevational View of the upper front left corner of the cabinet.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as might be seen from the plane l2l2 on Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing one of the drawer guides in elevation.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional eral front external configuration of which is best seen in Figure 16, comprises a bottom wall 2|, a top wall 22, side walls 23 and 24 and a rear wall 25. The lower portion of the cabinet 28 is provided with a plurality of drawer-receiving compartments generally indicated by numeral 26, and in th particular embodiment shown, 12 in number. Disposed above the drawer-receiving compartments is a large part or object receiving top compartment 21. The drawers generally indicated by numeral 28 are preferably of uniform construction best seen in Figure 16. Access to the top compartment 21 is gained by releasing the hasp 38 and swinging the front or movable cover portion 3| about the long piano type hinge 32. When the drawers 28 are fully seated and repose within the compartments 26, they may be securely locked against undesired removal by means of locking bars generally indicated by numeral 32' which abut forward vertical edges of the drawers and are maintained in position by nesting at the lower ends thereof in-sockets or lower retainers 33, and at the upper, ends thereof in upper retainers 34. The locking bars 32 are insertable within or removable from the upper and lower retainers by a vertical displacement thereof, and this displacement is obstructed by the forwardmost portionsof the movable cover portion 3| when the same is in the closed position thereof and locked by means of the wellknown hasp and rear structure 30. Thus, access to all of the drawers and to the top compartment is controlled by a single pad look (not shown) in conjunction with the hasp 30,

Turning now to a description of ,the cabinet proper, that is to say, apart from thedrawers, the cabinet is preferably composed of relatively thin sheet metal. r

, Forming the forward edges of some of the drawer-receiving compartments 26 are a plurality of vertically disposed flat bars 35, 36 and 31 which are connected to the upper flange of the base or front bottom frame member 40. The upper ends of the vertical flat bars 35, 36 and 31 are attached to the lowermost flange of the front apron 4|. The outer ends of the transverse or horizontal flat bars 38 and 39 are secured to the forward innermost flanges 42 and 43.

The end or side walls 23 and 24 are of substantially identical construction so that a description of one and its connection to the parts attached thereto, will suflice for the both. The side wall 23 is formed up from a flat sheet of material and includes a front flange 44 and a rear flange 45. The front flange 44 has an additional inner flange 42. The side wall 23 has a bottom flange 46 and a top flange 41 (see top of Figure 11) Y I The front base or bottom frame member 48 is substantially U-shaped in cross section, best seen in the lower left corner of Figure 3 and the lower right corner of Figure 10, and has secured to the front portion 48 thereof the lower retainers 33 and 33 which are preferably welded andriveted thereto. The outer ends of the bottom lframe member 40 are connected to the front flanges 44 and 44' by means of bolts. The left end of the frame member 40 is connected to the front flange 44 by means of bolts 49 and 56 and the right angular end of the member 40 is connected to the side wall 23 by means of a bolt 50.

Bolts 49 and 50 also secure in place the generally triangular lower forward corner reinforcing gusset 5| by penetrating the forward and side flanges 52 and 53 respectively. The outer ends of the gusset flanges 52 and 53 are also secured to the base member 48 and the side wall 23 by means of the bolts 54 and 55 respectively. The gusset 5| is provided with an orifice 56 which may be used for securing a suitable foot (not shown) thereto or for fixedly securing the cabinet 20 in place. The construction just described is best seen in Figures 8, 9 and 10, and the right hand lower front corner of the cabinet is of substantially identical construction. In order that the extremity of the base member 40 may contact the inner surface of the wall 23, the flange 42 at the lower portion thereof is suitably notched. Thus, as viewed in Figure 10, the flange 42"terminates at 58.

Turning now to Figures 3, 6, 7 and 7A the rear wall 25 is provided with a bottom flange 51 and a top flange 59 as well as end flanges 60. The rear wall 25 at the lower left hand corner thereof is nested within the rear lower corner of the side wall 23, and is secured thereto by means of the bolts 6| and 62 which also serve to secure in place the rear corner reinforcing gusset 63 by penetrating the flanges 64 and 65 thereof. The bolts 66 and 61 also serve to attach the flanges 64 and 65 to the side wall 23 and the rear wall 25, respectively.

The bottom flange 51 is formed by folding the lower edge of the rear wall 25 upon itself and then bending the folded portion at right angles. This provides a so called Dutch edge and return on back which reinforces and stiffens the lower marginal edge of the rear wall. It may also be mentioned at this point'that the front bottom frame member or base member 40 is of laminated construction comprising a double front wall and Dutch edges in theupper and lower flanges 68 and 69. The lower right hand corner of the rear wall 25 is integrated with adjacent parts in a manner similar to the rear lower left hand corner thereof as previousl described and istherefore not shown in detail. f

The rear wall 25 is provided with a plurality of drawer guide rear supports best seen in Figure 2 and indicated by numerals 10, 1|, 12, 13, and 14. Said supports are preferably formed from flat strip stock having a central valley. The configuration of the drawer guide rear supports is best seen in the upper portion of Figure l and the right portion of Figures 3, 13 and 14. The drawer guide rear supports are preferably secured to the rear wall 25 by means of spot welding.

The drawer guides are all preferably of uniform size and construction and are generally indicated by numeral 15 and are preferably arranged in rows, those in the lower row being indicated by numeral 16, in the middle row by numeral 11 and in the top row by numeral 18. The general configuration thereof is best seen in Figures 13, 14 and 15. Each drawer guide inflat bars 38, 39, and in the top flange 82 of the front base frame member 40.

The top compartment 21 is enclosed at thelsides thereof by the side walls 23 and 24, at the rear thereof by the wall 25 and at the front thereof by the apron 4|, The bottom of the compartment 21 is formed by a top compartment bottom wall 84. The construction of the wall 84 is best seen in Figure 3. The wall 84 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and includes a front flange 85 and a rear flange 86. The rear flange 8B is secured to the rear wall 25. The forward flange 85 rests upon an inwardly or rearwardly extending apron bottom flange 81. The flange 81 is preferably integrally formed from the lower edge of the apron 4|. The flange 85 may be secured to the lower portion of the apron 4| by means of bolts and nuts 88. The bottom wall 84 is stiffened and reinforced by a stiffener 89 which is channel-shaped in section and is preferably secured to the bottom surface 98 of the wall 84 by welding the edge flanges 9| and 92 thereto. The stiffener 88 prevents buckling of the bottom wall 84 when the compartment 21 is loaded with relatively heavy objects.

The top surface of the cabinet 20 includes a stationary rear top wall 92 and the front or movable cover portion 3|, previously referred to. The stationary rear top wall 92 is provided with downwardly extending side flanges 93, a rear flange 94 and a front flange 95. The side flanges 93 and the rear flange 94 are secured to the adjoining side walls, rear wall, and their respective flanges.

The front or movable cover portion 3| is provided with depending side flanges 96, rear flange 91 and front flange 98. The front flange 98 is folded upon itself to form a rounded edge 99 which may be manually grasped in comfort by the user when the cover 3| is elevated. The flanges 95 and 91 are joined by the piano hinge 32. The upper surface of the cover 3| is preferably provided with a working surface in the form of a layer of non-metallic material. This working surface layer I is preferably composed of a cellulose fiber composition, for example, that sold under the trade name of Masonite. The distance between the flange 91 and the flange 98 is such that the forward portion of the cover 3| overhangs the apron 4|, as best seen in Figure 3, so that the lower surface |0| existing below the portion of the cover 3| which juts forwardly of the apron 4| may overlie the upper entrances to the upper retainers 34 thereby preventing upward removal of the locking bars 32' when the cover 3| is in the closed position thereof.

When all of the drawers 28 are, in place, the locking bars 32' are placed within the retainers 34 and 33, thereby preventing withdrawal of any of the drawers. Closing the cover 3| and fastening the hasp 30 with a suitable padlock completes the closing of the cabinet for some purposes or to prevent unauthorized tampering.

It may thus be seen that we have provided a novel and useful portable cabinet having a special utility for the containing and shipping of relatively heavy objects of different size, shape and weight. Our cabinet possesses the advantages of relatively low production cost, high utility, durability and convenience.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A portable parts cabinet comprising: a casing having a plurality of drawer-receiving compartments arranged in vertical and horizontal rows; a separate top compartment disposed above the drawer-receiving compartments, a movable cover disposed above the said top compartment; a plurality of drawers arranged and movably disposed in said drawer receiving compartments; an upper locking bar retainer secured to said cover; a lower locking bar retainer secured to said casing; a vertically disposed locking bar in the form of a vertically enlongated member slidably insertable in or removable from both of said retainers; said locking bar being of a length sufficient to simultaneously engage both of said retainers in the closed position of the cover; said locking bar when disposed within said locking bar retainers overlapping adjacent edges of drawers in adjacent vertical rows, thereby acting to prevent the removal of said drawers; the movable cover in the closed position thereby acting as a closure for the separate top compartment and obstructing the removal of said locking bar.

2. A portable parts cabinet comprising: a casing having a plurality of drawer-receiving compart'ments arranged in vertical and horizontal rows; a separate top compartment disposed above the drawer-receiving compartments, and a movable cover disposed above the said top compartment; a plurality of drawers arranged and removably disposed'in said drawer-receiving compartments; a locking bar retainer secured to said casing; a vertically disposed locking bar in the form of a vertically elongated member; said locking bar, when seated within said locking bar retainer, overlapping adjacent edges of drawers in adjacent vertical rows, thereby acting to prevent the removal of said drawers; the movable cover in the closed position thereof acting as a closure for the separate top compartment and obstructing the removal of said locking bar. JOHN BROWNLIE.

RALPH GERSTENZANG. 

